Yet countries involved in Australia's regional processing centres and the resettlement of asylum seekers were barely touched by the severe cuts. Aid to Cambodia was unaffected, as was aid to Nauru, which now hosts one of Australia's regional processing centres. Papua New Guinea, Australia's largest aid beneficiary, was only cut by 5 per cent. This year the country will receive $553.6 million. Last financial year it received $577.1 million.

Aid established after the Boxing Day tsunami was due to expire.Credit:Kate Geraghty

In March, ambassadors from several African countries pleaded to the joint standing committee on foreign affairs and aid not to cut aid to their impoverished nations. Now, aid to Africa has been cut by 70 per cent as the Abbott government says it has committed to broadening and deepening Australia's engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

Financial commitment to a number of global organisations including the United Nations Development Fund and United Nations Children's Fund were also significantly cut, while major non-government organisations such as World Vision and Care Australia will lose 5 per cent of their federal funding.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said Australia would provide $4 billion in total Official Development Assistance in this year's budget.